Mechanical and physical performance of date palm/bamboo fibre reinforced epoxy hybrid composites

Date palm fibre is considered as an agricultural waste suitable as reinforcement for polymeric composites has received interest as an interior component in the automotive industry. The aim of this work to investigate the physical and mechanical properties of date palm fibre (leaf stalk, tree trunk, fruit stalk and leaf sheath) reinforced epoxy composites and date palm/bamboo hybrid composites suitable for non-structural and semi-structural applications. The different composites were fabricated using a hand lay-up technique in combination with compression moulding method. Date palm fibre/bamboo hybrid composite, and pure composites were characterized by various mechanical testing such as tensile, flexural and low-velocity impact testing. Exposure to liquid water and environmental conditions affect the durability of biobased composites. The water absorption behaviour and its effects on the thickness swelling, changes in density and physical performance of different composites were further investigated. The experimental results of the date palm fibre/bamboo hybrid composite exhibited the highest mechanical properties compared to date palm fibre composite without hybridisation. The tensile strength, flexural strength and impact toughness values for the date palm/bamboo hybrid composite were recorded at 39.16 MPa, 61.10 MPa and 12.70 J/m, respectively. Interestingly, the physical test of thickness swelling and water absorption results has indicated that date palm fibre/bamboo hybrid composite displayed 27.68% and 15.39% less when compared with single date palm fibre composite. Therefore, the results have discovered that the date palm fibre/bamboo hybrid composite has the prospective to be applied as a non-structural and semi-structural components.